Wireless Node Beam Correspondence Range Indication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in determining and indicating the range of beam correspondence between wireless nodes, particularly in millimeter wave frequencies, where signal attenuation is high and beamforming techniques are necessary to overcome path losses, leading to difficulties in identifying optimal beam pairs for effective communication.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for determining and indicating the range of correspondence between transmit and receive beams in wireless communication systems, which involves exchanging signals between nodes to assess beam correspondence, using calibration values for antenna weights, and determining beam quality indicators like RSRP, RSRQ, SNR, or SINR to identify full, partial, or no correspondence, thereby optimizing beam pairs for communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming techniques are used to overcome path losses in millimeter wave frequencies, then signal transmission quality is improved, but the complexity of determining optimal beam pairs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission qualityVSAvoidcomplexity of determining optimal beam pairs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary beam correspondence determination by exchanging indication messages between wireless nodes to identify corresponding transmit and receive beams before actual data transmission. This preliminary action establishes beam pairs in advance, reducing the complexity of real-time beam selection while maintaining reliable signal transmission in millimeter wave frequencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an indication message as an intermediary carrier that conveys beam correspondence information between wireless nodes. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the complex beam determination process by providing structured information exchange, allowing nodes to identify optimal beam pairs without direct complex calculations or extensive sweeping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If extensive beam sweeps are performed to identify optimal beam pairs, then communication quality is improved, but communication time and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing exhaustive beam sweeps across all possible beam directions, the patent uses partial action by exchanging compact indication messages that convey essential beam correspondence information. This approach achieves sufficient communication quality without the time cost of complete beam sweeping, thereby improving communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If beam correspondence information is exchanged between wireless nodes, then the need for extensive beam sweeps is reduced, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam sweep reductionVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential beam correspondence information needed for beam pair identification and conveys it through compact indication messages. By taking out only the necessary information (beam indices or identifiers) rather than exchanging complete beam training sequences, the patent reduces signaling overhead while still achieving beam sweep reduction and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11304210B2Indicating a range of beam correspondence in a wireless node

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes exchanging one or more signals between a first wireless node and a second wireless node, determining, at the first wireless node and based on the one or more signals, a range of correspondence between at least one of a transmit beam of the first wireless node and a receive beam of the first wireless node, determining a difference between indices of the transmit beam of the first wireless node and the receive beam of the first wireless node, and determining an uncertainty region for beam mapping based on the determined difference.